Saturday, November 28, 2015

I don't eat at P.F. Chang's very often because it is sort of out of my way. So when giving the opportunity, I took it. Lunch ended with a fortune cookie that didn't have a fortune in it. Time to go back to bed?

And so the gala, luncheon, fundraising season continues. On this day I was spotted at The Hobby Center for Society of the Performing Arts' Luncheon. Guest speaker was Laura Dern and to quote one of my co-workers, "She was quite lovely." She was also very interesting and insightful.

I wanted her to quote my favorite line from Wild At Heart but hence, she didn't. Life is full of disappointments.

Another stunning view of the sunrise in Houston. Can't see it? Well, that is because this photo was taken facing west. What you see is the leftovers of the night sky with the sunlit sky in the east reflecting in the buildings of Greenway Plaza.

Friday, November 27, 2015

It's that time of year when many non-profits are having fundraisers (luncheons, dinners, concerts, etc.) and I attended two of them in one day. Dec My Room held their luncheon at RDG and the food was yummy.

That evening, The Mission of Yahweh held their event at The Hobby Center. The incomparable Oleta Adams performed unplugged and I so glad I attended. What an amazing performer!
The view from The Hobby Center of the Houston skyscrapers is unique and sometimes the lighting and the sky and the lights on City Hall all line up for a great photo. And so, it happened again.

I'm too old to run with the young Big Dogs. Monday was a long day. And, it found me back at la griglia, drinking water and eating a greasy pepperoni pizza while watching the Astros play the Royals. Actually, it wasn't greasy enough. And, to add to the long day, there was Mayoral Forum that I had committed to attending.
Why do I do this to myself?

I never know what to call this place so I just call it 1308 Annex and let people figure it out. Anywho, the Margaritas are potent no matter what you call it. A group of us gathered to say farewell to Candace. I was going to pace myself but the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions.

And those intentions drove me to George Sports Bar to watch the Astros. It's scary when I'm the one in the group who is having to explain what is happening on the telly.

From George, the group moved to F Bar, and I just couldn't so I didn't. It was a long day.

I made time to go the Bayou City Arts Festival. The past few years, I just haven't been able to make it. I threw some bait out to a few folks but couldn't get any nibbles so I went by myself. Sometimes it IS easier that way.

I enjoyed strolling, viewing, purchasing and eating. All in all, a fun time.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

I was in my own bubble yesterday. When I left work I started listening to NPR and President Obama was on the air talking about the attacks in Paris. I went back into my bubble when I went to the storage looking for some items that were packed a year ago.

I get home, walk The Calvinator, eat and start watching the telly and that is when I realized the extent of the terror and carnage in Paris.

I awakened this morning and tuned in to CNN and tried to start processing what happened. I immediately thought of this:

I then searched for this quote from Bobby Kennedy:

"No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by his assassin's bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of the people." -The Cleveland Club, April 8, 1965

Friday, November 6, 2015

The City of Houston Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board had an awards ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts/Houston. Recipients were recognized for their achievements.
Erik Barajas was one of the emcees and Mango Punch provided the music to dance to.

So let me explained what happened. I grouped these photos together even though one of them was taken on October 1. Rather than do two postings about The Diana Foundation Country Dinner Weekend, I just lumped them all together.

This was the Diana's big weekend and this year they bumped it up several notches. They invited Steve Grand to perform on Saturday at the dinner which was held at Neon Boots. The night before, there was a VIP Meet & Greet with Steve. So...

The first picture is Steve performing on Saturday night. The second picture is me with Steve on Friday night. The third picture is me with A.J., Harlan and Kendall on Saturday night. If you're not paying too much attention, it looks like I am wearing the same shirt on Friday and Saturday but I'm not. I just realized that both nights I wore a navy blue shirt with a print. Really. It's not the same shirt.

As I previously mentioned, it's that time of year for luncheons, etc. I really didn't want to attend the LWI luncheon but I was asked to be there and to help with the registration, so I agreed and I'm glad I did.
First of all, I like going to the Junior League of Houston because they serve orange rolls but I digress. The first surprise was the swag at the table, it was cookbook and a big one at that!

The next surprise, and it was a big one, was the guest speaker Christy Haubegger. "Who?" you might ask because that is what I did. Christy is a fireball but more importantly, she is the founder of Latina Magazine, a film producer, and an agent at CAA. Wow! She represents Salma Hayek, Pitbull, Eva Longoria, and several others.
She gave an inspirational speech that even though it was directed to the Latina audience, it was a message that could resonate with anyone. And, she is a class act!
I am so glad I attended the luncheon.

It's the time of year for luncheons, dinners, galas and come what may.

I went to a luncheon at River Oaks Country Club of LIFE Houston. This organization provides emergency baby formula when the money runs out. I never knew how expensive it can be. Remember, not every mom can nurse and babies on formula need to be fed. This program is modeled after a program that started at First United Methodist-Fort Worth.

In the evening, I went to a book signing for A.J. Mistretta. He has recently published, 100 Things To Do In Houston Before You Die. I haven't looked at the complete list but I'm not sure that I've even done half the list.

Pope Francis came to visit the U.S.A. It was in conjunction with an address to the United Nations. He also addressed the a joint session of Congress, which was a first. And, prior to his address he met with U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner. I didn't realize Boehner is Roman Catholic so I can imagine that this was a big deal.

I didn't have a chance to travel to the east to see him so these photos are not my own. I can't remember where I found them but they're significant because they are from a prison that he went to visit in the Philadelphia, PA. I found out later that the chair was made by some of the prisoners under the direction of the prison staff.

While he hasn't come around on some issues like I think he should, he is definitely showing that he is the Pope Of The People. He continues to put himself among us commoners.

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